A consensus about what exactly qualifies as art does not exist. And while the way art is perceived and understood has varied considerably throughout different periods of history and across diverse cultural contexts, I want to offer a perspective that resonates with me.
When I refer to art, I am referring to the result or product that springs from the creative process. Art is the object that remains, the tangible result of our creativity.
I see the creation of art as a tool, or a mechanism, by which we examine and understand our lives and the world at large. These understandings are then shared with an audience and expanded upon intuitively. Art depends not only on the intention of its creator, but also on the interpretation and perception of the audience.
Art does not have to be anything, a work of art owes nobody anything. It can hold an idea, portray a value system or the lack thereof. It exists, and it exists to be seen by others.
The purity and innocence of art lies in its ability to exist beyond the confines of capitalist society, allowing for unbridled creativity and the creation of something free from convention. Art is freedom. A space where you can create is, at the same time, a space where you can be free.
